It always makes me sad to hear of an old family saying ?Mom made me promise to never put her in a nursing home.? That is simply a promise that most families today can not keep. If a child is the care you have to break that promise, they may feel guilty for the rest of their lives. Mom probably asked that promise because the nursing home, recalls were dark places, institutions that are considered poor in America today.
Today the family structure and financial challenges of elder care, to facilities to live a common choice. When an old shows signs of not being able to perform basic activities of daily living, families or professionals concerned should step in. In fact, it is against most state laws for a professional to be aware of the elderly in problems without any reasonable action to ensure their safety. There are many indications that an elderly person is no longer safe at home alone. The basic litmus test is to ask yourself is: ?Can this person save himself if their homes were on fire? Would you be able to call 911 and report your exact location? If left alone for a period of time are risk of physical abuse or financial exploitation? Do you have the skills and resources to meet their daily hygiene and nutritional needs, the answer is ?NO? for many older Americans living alone at home.
Independence vs. Isolation
Many of my elderly clients who were trying very hard to maintain their independence, living alone at home really holds nothing more than an isolated occasionally interrupted by the call or visit friends and family. This type of insulation was also added to medication errors or abuse, neglect and lack of hygiene, self-cleaning. A person living in this situation often ?bloom like a flower? in the retirement center right environment. It?s amazing what three hot meals a day, social interaction, clean sheets and regular administration of drugs can do for a person?s mind, body and spirit. A person living alone is more likely to fall and was alone on the floor for days without being found. A person living alone can make bad decisions and conservation, (or worse), spoiled food in the refrigerator. If a person lives alone, there are many signs of the disease that no one will notice for occasional short visits. appointments can be forgotten and left prescriptions unfilled. Many people feel they are honoring their aging loved one to let them live alone, despite all the telltale signs of self neglect are obvious. There is no honor or dignity to be found on the ground after you have established in their own excrement for three days. Unfortunately, many families are expected for this type of incident before insisting on home care or placement of facilities. If an elder is physically or verbally abusive to their families and caregivers, who are much more likely to be left alone to make their own decisions, no matter what your situation may be dysfunctional. Elderly people with difficult personalities are often more likely to be abused by caregivers. They need supervision, not less.
American Family dynamics and pressures of the World Today
I hear people say ?Americans do not take care of their elders, like other countries.? Well, that?s not my experience. The adult children who consult with Geriatric Care Manager or other professionals to care for older people are very concerned about their parents. They love you and want the best care money can buy. That?s the clincher: what your money can buy. In America, doctors, maids, etc, are expensive. Perhaps in another country where slave labor is a common place, people can pay a lot of attention. But in this country costs $ 12.00 per hour (or more) for a health aide in the home. At eight hours per day, which is $ 96.00 per day. That is $ 2,880 per month or $ 34,560 per year ? more than the average working American earns annually. The average woman receives a Social Security check of less than $ 500.00 per month. Do the math and you will soon see that unless you are rich, many people can not afford to keep their elderly at home with a part-time caregiver at home or even their children with a caregiver.
Now couple this financial problem with another real problem. Most middle-income women in their fifties, who care for their elderly parents are also trying to keep a job, help children and young adults maintain a marriage. If a woman stops working income to care for her parents, she and her husband, or can not pay their bills or should significantly reduce their standard of living. I know some husbands who are fifty-something and feel they have worked too hard and too long for their dream retirement evaporate because someone suddenly needs more important than their own. Now that Americans have come to understand the concept that you need two incomes to live well in this country are more determined than ever to have a retirement. The $ 35,000 per year for a doctor can take a huge chunk of retirement savings. Frankly, most people could not afford to do it if I tried. It?s worth most of the U.S. net capital of his home, selling the family home is the most common way to fund further care. If the family home sold for $ 100,000.00 and the average cost of assisted living is $ 36,000.00 a year, a senior can afford to live in that assisted living for 2.7 years. Coincidentally, the average amount of time a person lives in an assisted living facility before moving to a nursing home is 2.5 years.
Many adult children, who have the desire and financial means to take their elders to live with them, still can not. They can not because of medical or psychological needs of the elderly are beyond their management capacity. For example, if Grandma is sweet and docile by day, but ?sunset? or unrest grows in the evening, this poses a difficult problem for the loving family. When some people suffering from dementia or other medical problems can stay up all night. Sometimes walking outdoors or rummaging through drawers and closets. This behavior will keep the whole family awake at night. If a working class family can not sleep at night, this situation will become intolerable very quickly. Some adult children raised by parents have been violent, aggressive, aggressive elderly who are violent. Children who were raised in these conditions should not feel obliged to bring their parents to live with them, despite the pressure you can get from outsiders who do not know the real story.
The elderly and their families who are trying to make difficult decisions about major benefits for the care of a professional evaluation of a geriatric specialist. Managers care professionals can offer an objective opinion based on clinical evaluation of physical and cognitive status of the elderly. Physicians, hospital case managers, health coordinators and social workers admission can also offer advice on proper placement of an elder or even suggest how to set up home services to better meet the needs of the elderly.
Home Health ? Stay at home without being alone
At least, any elderly person living alone should have a medical alert system. This is a necklace or bracelet band with a panic button that can be pushed in an emergency. If the button is pressed a dispatch center receives the signal and do and try to communicate with the elderly through a loudspeaker placed in the home. If needs further assistance or respond to communication attempts, emergency services will be sent home. Many services also will be in touch with friends and family to notify them that assistance is needed. A good candidate for this device is one that has no memory loss and memory loss makes it difficult to learn to operate new equipment.
There are two basic types of services, home health care: Medicare and private service:
Home Health Medicare is free, but you can only access if you have asked a doctor. Medicare will authorize the start of free health services, if specific events have occurred, such as recent hospitalization for a period of three or more days, or a recent change in health status, etc., Medicare will send a registered nurse to assess old and the nurse decides whether other professionals such as physiotherapists, social workers, dietitians, etc., must conduct evaluations. Each professional will determine what services and for how long. Medicare services are temporary and are not offered on a full time basis. The average visit to the nurse, an assistant and the therapist is less than one hour each. Even Medicare home health aides remain only long enough to bathe and dress the patient.
Private Home Health can be arranged in a full-time, part time or live on base. Many of Long Term Care Insurance policies pay for home health care. The amount of attention you can get and the length of service varies depending on the policy they have purchased. If someone is uninsured, must pay out of pocket (or private pay) for services. Typically, a private home care agency will provide services to a minimum of four hours per day. Typical eight-hour shifts are 7 am to 3 pm, 15:00 to 23:00 and 11 pm-7 am. Many elderly people complain that an agency sends a different doctor every day. In order to prevent the same assistant, as far as possible, care for every day for at least eight hours. This will allow the agency to schedule the same person for all your travels. Because labor laws are applied and the agency would have to pay overtime for the time exceeds 40 hours per week, most likely have at least two to three caretakers of a case full time. The average hourly rate is $ 14.00 per hour. They also want a cost around $ 150.00 per day. A live-in home life and drives your car (or theirs for a fee of miles) and is expected to feed them, so even if you go to dinner. By law, a live-in is allowed two hours of free time. They can do what they like, even leaving the house during your vacation. If this agreement will not work for your situation, consider hiring an assistant throughout the day. Around the clock care is typically delivered in two twelve-hour shifts that are made by two different doctors.
An assistant comes home from 8am to 8pm and is relieved by the caregiver second at 8 pm until 8 am. Around the clock care can be delivered in time format of many. To live in is expected to have her own bedroom and bathroom, although many agencies are flexible on this issue. The living is expected to be awake all day and have at least 7 hours of sleep a night. If the elderly do not sleep at night, a concert in the arrangement will not work. One option is to live in ($ 150 per day), in addition to hiring a doctor to get home and stay up all night with the (time $ 14.00. For eight hours of the night) increased. This costs $ 112 + $ 150 = $ 262.00 per day. The only other alternative is to take care throughout the day, which cost $ 14.00/hr X 24 hours = $ 336/day. Add the eight-hour shift the night to live, saving about $ 3,000 per month. Veterans aid and attendance Pension is available to qualified veterans who need a caregiver at home regularly.
Types of accommodation for adults and Facilities:
Independent Living Facilities usually offer small apartments with some meals included in the price. A person living in an Independent Living Center is expected to manage their daily care needs of their own, but if staff would readily recognize the growing needs and help residents to get the necessary help. Some institutions have extra care available for additional charge to help residents ?age in place.? Others may ask a resident to leave if their needs exceed the scope of that particular installation. Limited transportation is usually provided, although many residents continue to drive when they come into a Center for Independent Living. These facilities can cost less than $ 1,000 per month to over $ 5,000 per month depending on the luxurious amenities and location.
Assisted Living Facilities usually offer hotel rooms in size with the option to share a room or pay extra for a private room. Three meals and snacks are usually provided as part of the price. It is expected that residents need help with daily care needs. Medication administration is strictly monitored. State laws dictate who may live in an assisted living facility. The State does not want to travel from facility to accommodate candidates in nursing homes or nursing homes to accept people who could work equally well in an Assisted Living Fund. Assisted by residents should be able to walk and transfer (from bed to chair or chair to standing) with the help of one person. An assisted living resident may be left alone in his room for two hours or more. nursing assistants are on duty all day. Registered nurses or licensed practical nurses are in operation at least during the day. Many medical facilities can make rounds and visit residents at least once a month. It is not uncommon for an assisted living resident will not have to leave the building for an appointment or beauty. Prices may vary from less than $ 1200/month to over $ 8,000 / month, again depending on amenities. Medicaid has a program called the Medicaid Waiver can pay part of the cost of assisted living. However, the funds have been historically limited and waiting lists can be long. The Pensions Assistant Veterans Assistance is designed to financially assist qualified veterans who need the services of an assisted living facility
Dementia-specific facilities are specially designed for memory impaired residents. The building, drawings, furniture, decoration, program activities and even the lighting has been scientifically designed to improve the lifestyle of residents with dementia. Many assisted living facilities and nursing homes offer a program of dementia or dementia unit, but there are full facilities that specialize in this particular population. Dementia-specific facilities can be assisted living facilities or residences. They are sure to prevent residents from wandering off the property and get hurt or lost. The price of this extra level of attention is usually about $ 1.000 to $ 2.000 more per month for a building specialist.
Nursing homes are regulated by the state, and are inspected at least once a year. A person who needs a nursing home generally can not live safely in an assisted living environment. A typical resident, or a wheelchair or bed bound. Those who can walk freely may need the nursing home environment, because they require constant medical supervision. The medical component of this environment is similar to a hospital or hospice. The emphasis is on rehabilitation or custodial care in place for socializing and activities. Medicaid ICP Program (program of institutional care) is paid for accommodation, food and medical expenses for residents who meet financial and medical criteria. It is possible to plan ahead to help an elderly meet these strict criteria.
Financial Realities
Keeping the elderly in the home with a caregiver may be the most expensive of all. Many families are keeping their loved ones in the comfort of your home is priceless. If a physician is paid a fee of $ 14.00/hour, eight hours per day equals $ 2,880.00 per month. Around the clock care exceeds $ 10,000 per month. Independent Living facilities have an average cost of $ 2,300.00 per month and do not provide personal support. Assisted Living Facilities range from about $ 2,500 / month to $ 5.000 per month and provide limited attention. A nursing home (without assistance from Medicaid ICP) can cost from $ 5,000.00 to 7,000.00 per month and offer comprehensive care.
Anyone considering hiring health at home or moving to an elder care center of any type should have its greatest current needs assessed by a qualified professional who can determine the current medical old and needs psychological and economic future and anticipate needs and solutions. With careful planning and realistic, caring for an elderly do not have to be a financial and emotional nightmare. Making the right choices for you and for the elder you care is easier when you have help from people who know the community to care for older people and all you have to offer.
Related posts:
- When You Need Alzheimer?s Help and Senior Home Health Care
- Promoting Home Health Care Services
- About Home Health Care Services
- Home Health Care Nurse for Mom 101
- home health care service
Source: http://www.huntclubmedspa.com/2011/05/home-health-care-v-s-facility-placement-options-in-elder-care/
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